Cool air vents

[achesos]

I'm not flying yet (inching ever closer to airworthiness inspection date), so I have no data but plenty of curiosity about this. I already bought and installed the snap-vents after choking at the shade price at AirVenture. Doesn't look that complex to make something just like it - c'mon - we're building a plane already... I assume that shade will always be very effective, but still air must be a bad thing inside...
So I wonder about the pressure inside the cabin - if it is too tight, it seems like air flow should be reduced (and heat increased)? Maybe a vacuum inducing vent at the rear (on the belly?) would help flow through the cabin down south?
On a related note, I also wonder about how noisy the gap at the rear of my canopy will be? At least this should help let out heat (maybe). How tight should this be sealed, if at all?
I also have not noticed anyone discussing the other heat source in this string - what about insulating the firewall? Maybe the foil bubble insulation mentioned earlier would help on this surface? (Inside the cabin) Has anyone tried this approach?

Sean

[wlarson861]

The gap between the canopy and turtle deck does create a vacuum that pulls air through the cabin. Like any airplane, there are plenty of air leaks in the cold but not enough in the heat :D I have used the larger "Snap Vents" as the only air intake and find it is usually plenty of air in flight. Not so much on the ground.

[SonexEZ]

well thank you all for the information , I have ordered the snap in vents for the slide back canopy and the koger sun shade and the next thing will be the vans vents if i need them

[SonexEZ]

i installed the snap in vents in the canopy was a very easy job it took longer to measure to get them in the same place each side, the first flight i only aimed them down didnt need that much air it made such a difference then i installed the over head shade but havent flown with it yet going up friday need 2 hrs to get to my 5 hr inspection and oil change not sure if i will adjust valves but i will check the adjustment compression is perfect at this time if anyone installed then vents in there canopy use a 8 teeth per inch 3 1/4 hole saw and cut very slow , measure twice cut once !

[radfordc]

I'm not flying yet (inching ever closer to airworthiness inspection date), I already bought and installed the snap-vents after choking at the shade price at AirVenture. Doesn't look that complex to make something just like it - c'mon - we're building a plane already... I assume that shade will always be very effective, but still air must be a bad thing inside...

Sean

I used the static cling plastic sun screens that you can buy for $10 bucks at the auto parts store and they worked very well at keeping the hot sun off my head. They stick well to the inside of the canopy.

[SonexEZ]

I'm not flying yet (inching ever closer to airworthiness inspection date), I already bought and installed the snap-vents after choking at the shade price at AirVenture. Doesn't look that complex to make something just like it - c'mon - we're building a plane already... I assume that shade will always be very effective, but still air must be a bad thing inside...

Sean

I used the static cling plastic sun screens that you can buy for $10 bucks at the auto parts store and they worked very well at keeping the hot sun off my head. They stick well to the inside of the canopy.

I have a set of them but never had very good luck getting them to stay where i want them and they never seem to lay flat

[fastj22]

Shade in a Sonex is required. I've used the cheap cling style and less cheap suction cup style shades, but after I swallowed hard and bought the fancy Kroger shade at AirVenture was I satisfied (albeit a little lighter in the wallet). Its a really well made shade, works great and I feel like a million bucks when I use it.

[kevinh]

Peter Anson makes and sells something similar to replace the catflap vent. His are plastic made on a 3D printer. see here
http://www.ansoneng.com/sample-page/pro ... ng-bracket\

I thought I'd pipe up here and say I just received a pair of Peter's vents and they seem really nice (with no need for ducts/panel space for the outlet). I look forward to installing them when I reach that point on my fuse (winter of this year hopefully?).

Kevin

[Judoka5051]

I used these on the side of my RV8. Worked great, light weight, easy to install, but pricey! I used a pilot hole then a wood bit (the one with the small spikes at the tips) made a perfect hole... Really! In fact, that's the way I made all large holes in aluminum. Doesn't work for stainless.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... tevent.php

[mike.smith]

I wear a hat and sunglasses. Really. That's all I do. I like being able to actually look out of my canopy in flight ;-) But then again I do all my flying well above the Mason Dixon line, so if I spent more time below that I'd probably be looking for shade! I have the Van's side vents and like them a lot. Huge amounts of air. Light, and dirt simple.